MCA
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
2233 University Ave. W. #355
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-251-0868 fax 651-917-3561
staff at mncitizensforthearts.org
www.mncitizensforthearts.org
Arts Action Center

January 15, 2010

1. State Arts Board Legacy Applications and Instructions Are Up On Their Web Site

2. Register Now For Arts Advocacy Day: March 2, 2010

3. Libaries Roster: For Artists, Authors, Instructors, Performers & Arts Organizations

4. New Internship Opening at MCA

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1. State Arts Board Legacy Applications and Instructions Are Up On Their Web Site

Application Forms and Info are up on the Minnesota State Arts Board, website, after a few days of technical problems that now appear to be solved. The new grants programs are made possible by the passage of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. The Board created four major new programs as well as a number of smaller initiatives. The four major new programs are:

1. 1. 1. Touring and Presenting/ Festivals Grants
      2. Arts Participation Grants
      3. Professional Development for Artists and Organizations/Artist Initiative Grants.
      4. Life-Long Arts Learning Opportunities

Smaller new programs include a census of artists and arts organizations, a touring folk/traditional visual arts exhibition, and additional traditional and folk arts grants. These programs are in addition to the Board’s previous decision to provide stabilization grants for arts organizations and presenters. Most of these new programs will have application deadlines in February, 2010, with award panels held in March/April, and grants made in June, 2010. So you have no time to waste! And remember, these larger grant programs are in addition to all of the many new Arts, Arts Access, Arts Education and Arts and Cultural Heritage programs being launched across the state by our eleven Regional Arts Councils.

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2. Register Now For Arts Advocacy Day: March 2, 2010

The best arts networking opportunity of the year will be MCA’s Arts Advocacy Day on March 2, 2010 in St. Paul.

You Are Invited! Minnesota Citizens for the Arts invites you to join your fellow arts advocates at the MN History Center and State Capitol on March 2, 2010 to talk about the arts, make new friends, and educate our legislators about the importance of the arts to Minnesota.

The state is facing yet another big deficit and arts funding will be threatened again. This year at Arts Advocacy Day on March 2nd, 2010, artists and arts supporters from across the state will be joining together to stop possible cuts to the state arts budget. Together we will speak about the importance of the arts in our lives and communities. In past deficits, state arts funding has been cut by a third. Participation of arts advocates that year made sure the cuts were not more severe.

Arts Advocacy Day Schedule March 2, 2010

7:30 a.m. Meet at the Minnesota History Center, St. Paul
8:00 a.m. Advocacy Class for new attendees
8:00 a.m. Registration & Coffee
8:30 a.m. Advocacy Seminar & Join your team
9:30 a.m. Walk/ride to Capitol
9:30-1:00 p.m. Legislator appointments

You and your team will be led by an experienced advocate who has participated in past Advocacy Days and knows what to do. Your team will visit a series of legislators during the course of the day, giving you plenty of time to get to know your teammates and the issues you are discussing.

By working together we show the strength of Minnesota’s arts community. Your elected officials are your voice in government: let them know what you think!

Register Online By: Visiting www.mncitizensforthearts.org by February 26th, 2010.

Questions? Contact Mark at MCA: 651-251-0868 / staff at mncitizensforthearts.org

Check out two great videos from Arts Advocacy Day Held February 24, 2009:

Here’s a video of highlights from the Arts Advocacy Day kickoff rally on MN Stories by Chuck Olsen:
http://www.mnstories.com/video/376/Arts-Adcovacy-Day

…and a 3 Minute Egg arts show by Matt Peiken with interviews of attendees and some footage of meetings with legislators:
http://www.mnstories.com/video/374/3-MINUTE-EGG-Arts-Advocacy-Day

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3. Libaries Roster: For Artists, Authors, Instructors, Performers & Arts Organizations

The state’s libraries got $8.5 million over the next two years to do history and arts programming in libaries across the state. Been wondering how you or your arts organization can partner with the libraries to provide those services? Search no more:

Attention: Artists, Authors, Instructors, Performers and Arts Organizations:

The state library system has set up a way for you to get onto a roster as a possible partner for local libraries to do programs and events with their new legacy funds. Sign up to be in their database by going to: www.mnlegacygrant.org. Click on the link that says “Click Here For Submission Form.”

You can fill out a form to inform them what you can offer, your posting will be reviewed and hopefully approved by a regional library person, and then you will be in the database where local libraries will go to find people and organizations to hire with their legacy funds. NOTE: The more information you provide when you sign up, the more likely you will get hired. Make sure to include your prices (and make sure your prices are high enough to cover your costs!). Make sure also to include your website address, if you have one.

Remember that these opportunities are in addition to the new programs being offered by the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils. Take advantage!

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4. New Internship Opening at MCA

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA), a nationally renowned arts advocacy organization that lobbies for state arts funding, seeks an intern to begin February 1st. The position is un-paid, part-time and flexible (approximately 20 hours per week).

MCA represents the arts community of Minnesota at the state legislature and lobbies for state funding of the arts, as well as other issues of concern to the non-profit arts community. MCA also does advocacy for the National Endowment for the Arts. To lobby effectively, MCA organizes grassroots advocacy around the state and keeps constituents educated and informed about the political process and the current state of arts funding throughout the year.

Interns will have exposure to and opportunities to interact with some of the movers and shakers in the arts community, as well as a working knowledge of the legislative process, arts funding structures in Minnesota and the basic functions of running a nonprofit. Perks include free tickets to performances and many opportunities to advance in the arts and/or political community.

Duties and projects included in the internship:

Work with staff on current projects including grassroots organizing, candidate meetings, voter education, board meeting preparation, filing and data entry. Interns may also have the opportunity to identify and take on projects of interest that relate to arts advocacy.

A qualified applicant would possess the following skills:

• Understanding of the political process. Past political experience preferred.
• Interest in working with the arts community.
• Good communication skills, especially speaking with people on the phone.
• A self-starting, positive, self-motivated personality and a sense of humor.
• Good organizational skills and the ability to perform many tasks simultaneously.
• Computer literacy; preferably experience with Macintosh, Microsoft Word & Excel and database systems.
• Independent and creative work habits.

APPLY NOW: Please mail or email resume and cover letter ASAP by Jan. 27, 2010 to: Mark Albers, staff at mncitizensforthearts.org, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, 2233 University Avenue West Suite 355, St. Paul, MN 55114